Ice tray and grid



Aug. 8, 1950 D. H. REE/Es ICE my AND GRID 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 25, 1936 INVENTOR. Do/VALD 6. RA: YES,

WM My.

Ill/6' ATTORNEYJ.

fl- 3, 1950 D. H. REEVES 2,518,373

ICE TRAY AND GRID Original Filed June 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Dam) fl. Farms ms ATTORNEYS.

D. H. REEVES ICE TRAY AND GRID Aug. 8, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 25, 1936 III $0041. 6. IPA: vzs.

I/IJ ATTORNEYS.

s- 1950 D. H. REEVES 2,518,373

mm mm: mm cam 0mm; Filed June 25, 1936 4 Sheds-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Dan/4A0 l2. Ra: Yrs.

BY WM Z4 Ill; ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES ICE TRAY AND GRID Donald H. Reeves, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 25, 1936, Serial No. 87,263 Renewed May 7, 1938 18 Claims.

This invention relates to freezing apparatus for liquids such as ice trays employed in mechanically refrigerated household cabinets.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved grid construction for ice trays and a novel method of removing ice blocks from the tray and grid without application of artificial heat thereto.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a freezing tray with a removable metallic grid structure that can be readily elevated within the tray and extended longitudinally therein so as to flex certain walls of the grid relative to other walls thereof to break the bond between the grid walls and ice blocks elevated therewith.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a freezing tray with a metallic grid construction that can be elevated along with ice blocks adhering thereto and flexed within and before removal thereof from the tray to release ice blocks from the grid which blocks fall back into the tray and can be harvested from-the tray or stored therein for subsequent harvesting therefrom.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further and more specific object of the present invention to provide an ice tray with a flexible metallic grid structure that can be longitudinally extended within the tray and which has means formed thereon for limiting the amount of extension thereof relative to the length of the tray.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following thereof showing ice blocks within the compartments of the tray formed by the grid structure;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the tray disclosed in Fig. 1 and taken on the line 33 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but.

showing the grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto in an elevated position within the tray;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig.4 taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 and shows the position of the grid after having been extended longitudinally within the tray;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the top plan position of the grid within the tray and is projected from the sectional view disclosed in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified grid structure within a tray and having the principles of my invention embodied therein;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 7 and partly in section so as to show the position of parts of the grid structure after having been extended longitudinally within the tray;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 showing the grid extended within the tray and flexed with ice blocks removed therefrom;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of another modified showing of a grid structure within a tray and having my invention embodied therein;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line lll| of Fig. 10 and showing the modified grid structure in normal freezing position;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the tray and modifled grid structure disclosed in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 showing the position of the grid after having been extended longitudinally within the tray; and

Figs. 14 and 14A are fragmentary vertical sectional views of an end portion of a tray showing a cam means on a lever for breaking the bond between the tray end wall and ice blocks within the corner compartments of a tray.

In order to illustrate the present invention I have shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings a relatively shallow metal tray l5 having side walls I6 and opposite end walls I1 and I8 which converge outwardly toward the top of the 0 tray. The walls l6, l1 and I8 of tray l5 have their top edge rolled over to form a rim I! extending continuously around the top of the tray. A heavy metal shoe or rigid member 2| is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the outer surface of end wall I! of tray IS. A second heavy metal shoe or rigid member 22 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the outer surface of end wall l8 of tray l5. Shoe or rigid member 22 has a downwardly extending and outwardly projecting leg portion 23 to which a handle member 24, having a cam surface 25 formed thereon, is pivotally mounted in any suitable manner. The handle member 24 facilitates the placing of tray IS in or ona cooling element of a refrigerating system and the cam surface 25 functions, upon manipulating the handle 24,to break an ice bond between the tray and its support in Or on the cooling element to permit removal of the tray therefrom as is well known in the art. The shoes or rigid members 2| and 22 secured to tray l5 are each provided with a rounded upper end portion 21 which conform to the contour of the inner surface of tray rim l9 and which fit closely thereagainst to increase the structural strength of the rim at each end of the tray for a purpose to be presently described. Each shoe or member 2| and 22 is also formed outwardly as at 28 to provide a cam abutting surface which is utilized for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A flexible metallic unitary grid structure 30 is disposed within tray l5 for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of open-top molds, matrices, cells or compartments 3|. It will be noted that the plurality of compartments or matrices I surfaces of the intermediate compartments 3|.

At each end of thegrid structure there are fiexible sheet metal portions 34 which are cut and bent into a substantially L-shape to provide two wall surfaces of the corner compartments 3|. The upright sheet metal portions 33 and 34 are assembled in back-to-back relation so that'the vertical surfaces of the yokes of the Us are substantially contiguous to one another and so that the assembly forms a grid structure which comprises a longitudinally extending member or wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to the longitudinal wall. The portions of the sheet metal members 33 adjacent their outer edges are secured together such as by spot-welding same as indicated by the cross marks 36 in Fig. 3 of the drawings and the ends of the grid structure formed by the sheet metal portions 34 are secured together as by having the small rigid plates 31 (see Figs. 5 and 6) welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto near the top of the grid. It is to be understood that while the grid structure formed in the manner described is flexible and/ or extensible in certain directions it is sufllciently rigid, due to the spot-weld joints between the elements thereof, to permit elevation thereof within the tray along with ice blocks adhering thereto without deformation thereof. It will be noted that the sheet metal portions 33 and 34 are spaced apart at the intersection of the transverse walls with the longitudinal wall and that this space extends along the length of the longitudinal wall only to a point slightly beyond the intersections. This space receives and has water frozen therein but the ice formed in this space does not interfere with the operation of extending the grid longitudinally within the tray as will be hereinafter more fully described. The space between the double longitudinal wall of the grid may, if desired, be sealed in any suitable or wellknown manner so that water will not enter and be frozen therein. A pin 38 is extended through a suitable opening provided in the small plates 37 located at each end of the grid structure. A lever 39 is secured to each end of the grid 30 and has the legs of a yoke portion thereof receiving the pin 38 to secure the levers to the grid. Each lever 39 includes a handle portion 4| and the handle portion of one lever is formed away from the handle portion of the other as shown in Fig. i of the drawings to avoid interference of the handles with one another when same are lying along and resting upon the top of grid 30. The levers 39 are each provided with a camming surface 42 on their underside which is adapted to engage the rim IQ of tray I5 above the reinforcing members 2| and 22, when the levers are moved about their pivotal mounting pins 38, to cause elevation of the grid structure 30 within tray 15. A fingered end 43 provided on each of the levers 39 is adapted. upon continued or further movement of the levers about their pivotal mounting pins 38, to cause extension of the grid structure 30 lengthwise within tray l5 for a purpose and in a manner to be presently described.

After water placed in the tray l5 has been frozen to form ice blocks 45 within the compartments or cells 3| as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the levers may be manipulated to harvest the blocks from the tray. Upward movement of the handles 4| of levers 39 causes the cam surfaces 42 of the levers to engage and roll or slide around the rim I9 of tray l5, above the reinforcing members 2| and 22, to elevate the grid structure 39, together with ice blocks 45 adhering thereto, within and relative to the bottom of tray I5. This elevated position of the grid structure 30 and ice blocks 45 is disclosed in Fig. 4 of the drawings and it will be noted that the ice blocks 45 together with the spot-welded points 36 maintain the grid structure 30 rigid during the act of elevating same within tray l5. That is, there is no flexing or extension of the grid structure 39 during the act of elevating same within the tray in the manner described. After having been elevated within tray IS the grid structure can, due to the clearance space afforded between the grid or ice therein and the inner surface of the end walls l1 and I8 of tray l5 by the upward movement of the grid as shown in Fig. 4, be fiexed and extended lengthwise of the tray while being positioned therein. Therefore the handles 4| of levers 39 are moved further upwardly, in the same direction of movement thereof which caused elevation of the grid within the tray, about their pivot pins 38. This further movement of levers 39 causes the fingers portions 43 formed on the levers to abut the upper portion of the rigid reinforcing members 2| and 22, between the ends 21 and the outwardly projectin cam abutting portions 28 thereof, thus extendin the grid structure 30 lengthwise within tray l5. Obviously the grid structure 30 is flexed into the stretched position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings to cause expansion of the compartments or cells 3| by movement of the compartment walls 33 and 34 out of their normal contiguous relation and by movement of the outwardly projected portions of Walls 33, at the intersection of these walls, toward the longitudinal center of the grid structure. The movement of the sheet metal portions of the transverse walls of the grid structure away from one another as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 causes the grid structure to also be bowed as disclosed in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The walls of the grid structure 30 are therefore substantially peeled away from the ice blocks 45 and these blocks may be readily removed from the grid structure and the tray, due to the elevated position of the grid within the tray, or the blocks of ice may be permitted to fall into the tray l5 and to attain the position shown in Fig. 5. The entire grid structure 30 can then be bodily removed from the tray l5 thus leaving the ice blocks 45 therein to be harvested therefrom by any suitable ice tongs or, if desired, the tray I together with ice blocks contained therein can be repositioned in or on the cooling element of a refrigerating system to thereby permit the ice blocks to be maintained in their frozen state for subsequent harvesting from they tray. Thus the device disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive provides for the extension of a flexible metallic grid structure lengthwise within a tray without removing the grid from the tray to cause the bond between ice blocks and the grid to be broken for releasing the ice blocks.

Referring now to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings wherein I have disclosed a modified form of the invention, one upright leg portion of the U-shaped and L-shaped sheet metal portions 33b and 34b forming the double transverse walls of the grid structure 30b has an extension 50 formed along a portion of their upper edges. The extensions 50 are bent over the upper edge portions of the other cooperating contiguous sheet metal members of the transverse grid walls so as to have their ends spaced from these other sheet metal portions for a purpose to be presently described. It will be noted that the portions of the fiexiblemetal members 33b and 34b forming the central longitudinal double wall of the grid structure 30b in this form of the invention lie in contiguous relation to one another throughout substantially the entire length of the grid. The members 33b and 34b are spot-welded together at spaced apart points indicated by the cross marks designated at 5| in Fig. 9 and may also be welded at spaced apart points along the side near the edge of the transverse walls. In this modified form of the invention only one lever 39b is employed to elevate grid 30b within tray l5b and to extend the grid longitudinally of and within the tray. In order to render the lever 39b, operative in its function the end of the grid structure 301). opposite the end thereof to which lever 39b is secured, must be prevented from moving away from the end wall Nb of the tray l5b during extension of the grid within the tray. To this end I secure a sheet metal member 53 to the end of the grid structure 30b opposite the end thereof which has the lever 39b mounted thereon (see Figs. 8 and 9). The member 53 is spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to the edges of outwardly extending legs 55 provided on the end members 34b of the grid structure 301). Member 53 includes rolled over upper edges 55 adapted to engage the legs 54 upon expansion of the grid and also rolled over upper edges 55 which form loop portions for receiving ends of a handle 51. The rolled over upper edges 56 have end portions 58 extending downwardly and which are adapted to engage a heavy reinforcing plate 59 secured to the end Nb of tray l5b to thus prevent movement of the one end of grid structure 301) away from the end wall of the tray during the act of extending the grid structure within the tray l5b. The handle 51, provided in this modified form of my invention, has no function in the extending of the grid structure longitudinally within the tray by movement of lever 39b and serves only to facilitate removal of the grid structure 30b from the tray l5b.

After water placed in tray l5b, of this modified showing of my invention, has been frozen to form the ice blocks 45b within the compartments or cells 3lb the lever 39b may be manually operated to break the bond between the grid structure 30b and ice blocks 45b. An upward moveits pivot point 381) causes the cam surface 431:, provided on lever 39b, to engage and roll or slide around the rim Nib, of tray l5b to elevate a portion of or the one end of grid structure 301), together with ice blocks 45b adhering thereto, within and relative to the bottom of tray l5b. During the operation of raising grid structure 301) within tray l5b the end portions 58 of member 53 engage rigid member 59 to prevent movement of the end, opposite the lever end, of grid .l5b away from the end wall ill) of tray l5b. After the grid and ice blocks have been elevated within tray l5b the grid structure 30b can then, due to the clearance space aiforded between the one end of the grid or ice therein and the inner surface of the end wall lab of tray l5b, be flexed and extended lengthwise within the tray while being positioned therein. The handle of lever 39b is therefore moved further upwardly of tray l5b top edge portions of grid structure 3% serve as ment of the handle end Nb of lever 391) about stops to permit the one portion of all the transverse double walls of the grid to move an equal distance away from the other portions thereof thereby causing progressive expansion of the transverse walls or elongation of the grid structure 3012 within tray l5b. Without such stops it is obvious that certain transverse walls of the grid structure might be expanded beyond their elastic limit and therefore would not return to their normal contiguous position as shown in Fig. 7. The rolled over top edge portions 50 of the grid structure 30b disclosed in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive thus serve a, double purpose in the function of the device and also prevent fracture of the sheet metal parts of the structure. By referring to Fig. 9 of the drawings it will be noted that the grid structure 30b is shown in a position after having been extended within the tray 30b in the manner described and dis-closes the grid in a fixed and bowed position. The bond between the walls of the compartment or cells 3lb and the ice blocks is thus brokenand the ice blocks 45b can be removed from the grid structure 30b or from the tray l5b in a manner similar to that described relative to the showing of the invention in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive wherein I have disclosed another modified form of my invention it will be noted that the grid structure 3% includes the features and principles of the grid structure 30b shown in Figs. '7 to 9 and that the grid includes two horizontally spaced apart longitudinally extending vertical walls to divide the interior of tray l 50 into three rows of ice block compartments or cells Me. In this further modified form of the invention the flexible sheet metal members of the grid structure 300 are formed with a U-shaped portion 6| and the legs of the Us are bent outwardly as at 62. The portions 62 of the sheet metal members of the grid are spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured as at 63 (see Fig. 12) to straight lengths of sheet metal pieces 54 extending transversely of the tray I50. The yoke portions of the U-shaped flexible sheet metal members Bl are spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured as at 65 (see' Fig. 12) to the sheet metal pieces 84. The sheet metal pieces 64 have a portion of their top edge at each end thereof extended upwardly and bent or rolled over as at 65 to form stops for the movement of the leg parts 62 of the partitions relative thereto. A part of the rolled or bent over portions 66 are clamped tightly against the legs 62 at their ends to more firmly hold the grid structure together and to prevent too great a flexing of the parts thereto. It will be noted that the portions 6| of the flexible sheet metal parts, which cooperate with one another to form the two spaced apart longitudinally extending walls of grid 30c, are tilted outwardly from one another toward the bottom of the grid structure to provided a tapered central row of ice block compartments or cells. That is, the central row of ice block compartments are tapered outwardly from the tops toward the bottoms thereof to permit ice blocks to freely fall from this central row of cells. The transverse double walls of the grid structure 30c while being parallel to one another are also tilted at a slight angle toward the right end of tray I50 as viewed in Fig. 11. This slanting of the transverse walls of the grid structure 300 is due to manufacturing facilities, and since the walls are parallel to one another the slanting thereof does not interfere with release of ice blocks from the grid. The end of the grid structure 300 having the lever 390 secured thereto is formed by two substantially L-shaped pieces ll secured in back-toback relation to provide a. mounting portion for the lever 390 similar to the mounting of the lever in other forms of the invention disclosed. The pieces ll each have a portion of their top edge rolled over as at I2 to form stops for the movement of member 64 relative thereto. To increase the structural strength of the connection of the lever end of the grid structure with other portions thereof I also roll over top edge portions of the pieces H as at I3 to also form a pair of stops inwardly of the stops formed by the rolled top edges 12 thereof. The grid structure 30c which divides the interior of tray I 50 into three rows of ice block cells is thus made strong while at the same time being flexible and capable of longitudinal extension within tray I50 in a manner similar to that described relative to the operation of the other grid structure 30 and 30b disclosed. Aside from the structural difference of the tray and grid shown in Figs. to 12 inclusive of the drawings and the specific expanding or flexing movement of the grid due to this structural difference the function of elevating grid 300 within tray I50 and of extending same lengthwise within the tray is substantially the same asthat described in the operation of the device disclosed in Figs. '7, 8 and 9. It is to be noted by referring to Fig. 13 of the drawings, which discloses the grid structure 300 flexed or extended longitudinally within tray l 50, that the ice block compartments or cells are widened or expanded lengthwise of the tray thus causing ice blocks to be freed from the walls of the grid by being peeled away from same and permitting the blocks to freely fall. out of the compartments.

Since the ice blocks within the corner compartments of trays, equipped with a grid structure similar in general configuration to that herein disclosed, have three surfaces bonded to the tray it may be desirable, although not ordinarily necessary. to provide some means to break at 8 least one of the tray walls loose from the corner ice blocks prior to elevating the grid structure and ice blocks within the tray. This may be done to insure that the corner ice blocks. will have an amount of their surface bonded to the grid structure equal to or greater than the amout of surfaces thereof bonded to the tray so that the corner ice blocks will adhere to the grid structure rather than to the tray walls. Therefore I have disclosed in Figs. 14 and 14A of the drawings a means for. breaking the corner ice blocks loose from one of the tray walls prior to elevation of the grid and ice blocks adhering thereto within the tray. The lever 39 disclosed in Figs. 14 and 14A has a cam 15 formed on the legs of the yoke portion thereof and which cam I5 normally lies closely adjacent the end of wall i8 of tray l5 as shown in Fig. 14. When lever 39 is initially moved upward, and prior to engagement of cam 42 formed thereon with the top edge I9 of tray l5, cam 15 is rotated about pin 38 into engagement with the inner surface of end wall l8 of tray I5 and moves or forces the tray end wall l8 outwardly of the corner ice blocks 45 as shown in I Fig. 14A. Thus it is apparent that each of the corner ice blocks are then bonded only to the side wall I 6 and the bottom wall of tray iii to thereby cause these corner blocks to adhere to the grid structure rather than to the tray walls so as to insure of their elevation along with the grid structure within the tray upon further upward movement of lever 39. It is to be understood that while end member 22 is rigid and prevents the tray end wall I 8 from moving inwardly this memher is arranged to permit the tray end wall I8 to be slightly flexed outwardly for the purpose just described. One way of accomplishing this is by welding the end member 22 to the tray end wall i8 only at a point disposed in alignment with the vertical longitudinal center of the tray l5.

In describing the removability of the flexible grid structures of the present invention it is to be understood that all the grids disclosed possess sufllcient resiliency to spring back into their normal position as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 10 after they have been removed from the tray so as to be capable of re-insertion into the trays. In the forms of the invention disclosed it is apparent that the grid structures are progressively expanded either from one end of the tray toward the other end of the tray or from both ends of the tray inwardly thereof for extending the grid lengthwise within the tray to thus increase the size of the ice block compartments and cause the ice blocks to be released from the compartment walls.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an improved flexible metallic grid structure for disposition in ice trays of household refrigerator cabinets. The ice cubes or blocks can be removed or harvested from my improved device without applying heat to the tray or to the grid structure. By providing for the extension longitudinally of the improved flexible metallic grid structure within the tray and prior to complete removal of the grid from the tray ice blocks can be harvested from the compartments of the grid structure or they may be permitted to fall into the tray thus preventing the blocks from falling away from the grid structure in scattered relation in a sink or the like. The ice blocks by being received in the tray of my improved apparatus may be repositioned in 16 or on a cooling element of a refrigerating systern to thereby be maintained in a frozen condition for future harvest from the-tray.

While the forms of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. a

What is claimed is as follows: 1. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, an'elongated' metal tray having a grid structure removably positioned therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, certain of said grid walls being formed of opposed flexible sheet metal portions, means for elevating a. portion of the grid struc ture together with ice blocks adhering thereto within said tray, said means being constructed and arranged to move one-of the opposed sheet metal portions of said certain grid walls relative to the other of the sheet :portions thereof, while the grid structure and ice blocks are maintained in their elevated position within the tray,

to extend said grid structure lengthwise of the tray for breaking the bond between said grid structure and the ice blocks, and means formed on one of the sheet metal portions of said grid walls and disposed in the path of movement of the other of said sheet metal portions thereof for limiting movement of the wall portions relative to one another and the extension of said grid structure.

2. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, an elongated tray and a grid structure disposed therein and dividing the interior thereof into four corner ice block compartments and a series of intermediate ice block compartments disposed in rows and extending between said corner compartments, said grid structure comprising a wall extending in one direction and a series of other walls projecting transversely from opposite sides thereof, at least one of said walls of said grid structure being formed of opposed flexible metallic sheet portions normally disposed contiguous to one another, means engaging the grid structure and said tray and being operable to forcibly elevate a portion of said grid structure, together with ice blocks adhering thereto, within said tray, said means also being operable, while engaging said tray and maintaining said grid and the ice blocks elevated within said tray, to move one of the opposed metallic sheet portions of said one grid wall relative to the other of said sheet portions thereof to extend the grid structure longitudinally of the tray for breaking the bond between said grid structure and ice blocks therein, and means formed on one of the sheet metal portions of said one grid wall and disposed in the path of movement of the other'sheet portion thereof so as to be engaged thereby to limit the longitudinal extension of said grid structure.

3. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, an elongated metal tray having side and end walls diverging outwardly.

walls being formed of opposed flexible metallic sheet portions, means engaging one end of said grid structure and the corresponding end of said tray and being manually operable to forcibly elevate the grid structure, together with ice blocks adhering thereto, within said tray, said means being constructed and arranged to also be operable, while engaging said tray and maintaining said grid and the ice blocks elevated within said tray, to move the opposed metallic sheet portions of said grid walls relativeto one another to extend the grid structure longitudinally of the tray for breaking the bond between said grid structure and ice blocks therein, and means formed on the Opposite end of said grid structure for holding said end of the grid against the opposite end wall of said tray during operation of said first named mea to extend the grid structure.

of opposed flexible metallic sheet portions, means engaging one end of said grid structure and the corresponding end of said tray and being manually operable to forcibly elevate the grid structure, together with ice blocks adhering thereto, within said tray, said means being constructed and arranged to also be operable, whileengaging said tray and maintaining said grid and the ice blocks elevated within said tray, to move the opposed metallic sheet portions of said grid walls relative to one anotherto extend the grid structure longitudinally "of the tray for breaking the bond between said grid structure and the ice blocks therein, means formed on the opposite end of said grid structure for holding said end of the grid against the opposite end wall of said tray during operation of said first named means to extend the grid structure, and means on said grid structurefor limiting the longitudinal extension thereof within said tray.

5. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, an elongated metal tray having a grid structure removably positioned therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall for dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, certain of said grid walls being formed of opposed flexible sheet metal portions, means for elevating a portion of the grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto within said tray, said means being constructed and arranged to engage and exert a force against said tray to move one of the opposed sheet metal portions of said certain grid walls relative to the other of the sheet metal portions thereof, while the grid structure and ice blocks are maintained in their elevated position within the tray, to exrelativeto one another to cause the extension of said grid structure to be progressive from one portion to another portion thereof.

6. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, an elongated metal tray having a grid structure removably positioned therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall for dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, certain of said grid walls being formed of opposed flexible sheet metal portions, means at one end of said grid structure for elevating a portion thereof together with ice blocks adhering thereto within the tray, said means being constructed and arranged to engage and exert a force against said tray to move one of the opposed sheet metal portions of said certain grid walls relative to the other of the sheet metal portions thereof, while the grid structure and ice blocks are maintained in their elevated position within the tray, to extend said grid structure lengthwise of the tray for breaking-the bond between said grid structure and the ice blocks, means on said grid structure cooperating with each of said certain walls thereof for limiting movement of the opposed sheet metal portions of said grid walls relative to one another, and means formed on the end of said grid structure opposite the end thereof at which said elevating means is located for holding said opposite end of the grid against its corresponding tray end during operation of said elevating means to cause the extension of said grid structure to be progressive from one end to the other end thereof.

'7. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, an elongated metal tray having a grid structure removably positioned therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall for dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, certain of said grid walls being formed of opposed flexible sheet metal portions, means on one end of said grid structure constructed and arranged to engage and exert a force against said tray for elevating a portion of the grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto within said tray, said means also being constructed and arranged, while engaging said tray and maintaining said grid and the ice blocks elevated within said tray, to move the opposed sheet metal portions of said certain grid walls relative to one another to extend the grid structure lengthwise of the tray for breaking the bond between said structure and ice blocks therein, and means formed on the opposite end of said grid structure engaging said tray for holding said opposite end of the grid against movement in the direction of movement thereof by said grid extending means.

8. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, an elongated metal tray having a grid structure removably positioned therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall for dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, certain of said grid walls being formed of opposed flexible sheet metal portions, means on one end of said grid structure constructed and arranged to engage and exert a force against said tray for elevating a portion of the grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto within said tray, said means also being constructed and arranged, while engaging said tray and maintaining said grid and the ice blocks elevated within said tray, to movethe opposed sheet metal portions of said certain grid walls relative to one another to extend the grid structure lengthwise of the tray for breaking the bond between said structure and ice blocks therein, and means formed on the opposite end of said grid structure engaging said tray for holding said opposite end of the grid against movement in the direction of movement thereof by said grid extending means, said last named means including a handle portion adapted to facilitate removal of the grid structure from the tray.

9. A grid structure for an ice tray comprising, a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall, certain of said grid walls being formed of opposed sheet metal portions, means for moving one of the opposed sheet metal portions of said certain grid walls outwardly away from the other of the sheet metal portions thereof to extend said grid structure lengthwise, one of said opposed sheet metal portions of each of said certain grid walls having a part thereof disposed in the path of movement of the other sheet metal portion thereof, and said part of said one of said opposed portions of said certain grid walls limiting movement of the opposed grid wall portions away from one another to cause the extension of said grid structure to be progressive from one portion to another portion thereof.

10. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, an elongated metal tray having a grid structure removably positioned therein, said grid structure including a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely to said longitudinal wall for dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of ice block compart ments, certain of said grid walls being formed of opposed sheet metal portions, means on one end of said grid structure constructed and arranged to engage and exert a force against said tray for elevating a portion of the grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto within said tray, said means also being constructed and arranged, while engaging said tray and maintaining said grid and the ice blocks elevated within the tray, to move the opposed sheet metal portions of said certain grid walls outwardly away from one another to extend the grid structure lengthwise of the tray for breaking the bond between said structure and ice blocks therein, a handle at the opposite end of said grid structure adapted to facilitate removal of the structure from the tray, and said handle having a portion thereof constructed and arranged to engage said tray for preventing movement of said opposite end of the grid in the direction of movement thereof by said grid extending means.

11. A unitary metallic grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and movable relative to the tray as a unit, said grid structure comprising a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitions extending laterally from both sides of said longitudinal partition, all of said partitions being held together to provide a permanent unitary structure and forming walls of a row of ice block compartments on each side of said longitudinal partition, said partitions being held together in such a manner as to permit movement of certain of the walls of the ice block compartments away from one another, a leverage mechanism for imparting such wall movement to said unitary grid structure for breaking and for enlarging said compartments to liberate the ice blocks therefrom, and said partitions having an integral part thereof disposed in the path of movement of walls of the ice block compartments away from one another for limiting said movement thereof to cause said wall movement to be progressive from one end to the other on of said unitary grid structure.

12. In a unitary removable grid structure for ice cube trays, the combination of a plurality of walls secured together to provide a longitudinal partition and a plurality of partitions extending laterally therefrom in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, portions of the longitudinal partition projecting outwardly of another portion thereof intermediate said spaced apart laterally extending partitions to form a longitudinal partition which deviates from a con: tinuous straight line extension for rendering said grid structure flexible and extensible.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 in which a lever is pivotally connected to an end of the longitudinal partition for elevating the grid structure relative to a tray.

14. The combination set forth in claim 12 in which a lever pivotally connected to an end of the longitudinal partition is adapted to apply force to a tray for elevating the grid structure relative thereto and for extending same lengthwise thereof.

15. A grid for an ice tray comprising a set of longitudinal wall pieces and a set of transverse wall pieces, means tying said wall pieces together to form a bowable longitudinal partition and a series of spaced transverse partitions extending therefrom, and pieces of one set having means engageable with a stop portion of an adjacent wall piece to impose a restriction on the bowing of said longitudinal portion.

16. In liquid congealing apparatus, the combination of an open topped ice pan embodying bottom, side and end walls. a removable longitudinally-extending grid structure for dividing the ice pan into a plurality of ice cube forming cells, said grid structure embodying a plurality of walls movable relative to each other, leverage means engageable with the end walls of said ice pan and means for rotatably attaching a leverage means to each longitudinal end of the grid structure, which end walls first serve as fulcrum points for the leverage means when the 14 leverage means are operated to raise the grid structure from the ice pan to break the bond between the ice cubes and the ice pan, said leverage means engaging the end walls of the ice pan upon further rotation in such a manner that the distance between said attaching means is increased and the grid structure arches upwardly, thereby moving the grid walls to break.

the ice bond between the grid structure and the ice cubes. v

1'7. A freezing device for refrigerators comprising, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid, an elongated flexible grid member for dividing the interior of said receptacle into a series of matrices for the formation of ice blocks, said grid member being extensible longitudinally to cause release of the ice blocks and having one end thereof secured against longitudinal movement relative to one end of the receptacle, and actuating means having a connection with the other end of said grid member and operable to apply force to the other end of said receptacle for lifting and extending the grid member relative to said receptacle.

18. A freezing device for refrigerators comprising, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid. a grid member for dividing the interior of the receptacle into matrices for the formation of ice blocks including a resilient metal structure having portions thereof forming longitudinally spaced side walls of double thickness, said structure being extensible by separation of said wall thicknesses and being provided with means for limiting the separating movement of said wall thicknesses, one end of'said structure being secured against longitudinal movement relative to one end of said receptacle, and actuating means having a connection with the other end of said structure and operable to apply a force to the other end of said receptacle to cause lifting and extending of the structure relative to said receptacle.

DONALD H. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

